Old Town, Bratislava
Encyclopedia
The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center and one of the boroughs of Bratislava
, in the Bratislava Region
of Slovakia
. It is coextensive with the smallest Slovak administrative district
by area, Bratislava I
. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava Castle
and other important landmarks. Bratislava's Old Town is known for its many churches, a riverbank promenade and cultural institutions, it is also the location of most of the foreign states Embassies and important Slovak institutions including National Council of the Slovak Republic
, Summer Archbishop's Palace
; seat of the Government of Slovakia
and Grassalkovich Palace
; seat of the President of Slovakia
.
The western part of the district is a hilly area featuring the Slavín
monument, Horský park (literally Mountain(ous) Park), many detached houses, and most of the foreign embassies in Slovakia. The hilly area ends in the south at the Danube
with the Chatam Sófer memorial and the Bratislava Castle
hill, and in the west at the D2 Motorway. This part of Bratislava is more quiet than the other parts of the city's Old Town.
The eastern section is the historical and administrative center. Notable buildings and spaces include the Grassalkovich Palace
, Trinity Church
, Bratislava's Town Hall, St. Martin's Cathedral
, Michael's Gate
, the Primate's Palace
, Comenius University, the main railway station
(Hlavná stanica), the Slovak National Theatre
(both the old and new sites), SNP Square, the Main Square
(Hlavné námestie), Hviezdoslav Square
(Hviezdoslavovo námestie), Kamenné námestie ('Stony Square'), Obchodná ulica (a commercial street, an equivalent to the High Street
), Zochova
Street from the 14th century and many other old churches and palace
s. There are still some remnants of the medieval Bratislava city walls, although not open to the public for the time being.
, the boundary then crosses the tram lines of the Nábr. arm. gen. L. Svobodu Street and continues through Mlynská dolina Street until the State Geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr on Patrónka
, continuing to the junction of Lamačská cesta – Cesta na Červený most, then it crosses the railway line Malacky
- Bratislava
near Bratislava Železná studienka railway station where it sharply turns towards south-east.
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, in the Bratislava Region
Bratislava Region
The Bratislava Region is one of the administrative regions of Slovakia. Its capital is Bratislava. It is the smallest of the eight regions of Slovakia.-Geography:...
of Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
. It is coextensive with the smallest Slovak administrative district
Okres
Okres refers to administrative entities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia...
by area, Bratislava I
Bratislava I
Bratislava I is a district in the city of Bratislava. It is identical with its sole borough, Bratislava's Old Town . It is completely surrounded by other Bratislava districts: Bratislava II, Bratislava III, Bratislava IV and Bratislava V....
. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on a quite isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava...
and other important landmarks. Bratislava's Old Town is known for its many churches, a riverbank promenade and cultural institutions, it is also the location of most of the foreign states Embassies and important Slovak institutions including National Council of the Slovak Republic
National Council of the Slovak Republic
The National Council of the Slovak Republic , abbreviated to NR SR, is the national parliament of Slovakia. It is unicameral, and consists of 150 MPs, who are elected by universal suffrage under proportional representation every four years....
, Summer Archbishop's Palace
Summer Archbishop's Palace
The Summer Archbishop's Palace or Summer Archiepiscopal Palace is a palace in Bratislava which houses the government of Slovakia...
; seat of the Government of Slovakia
Government of Slovakia
The Government of the Slovak Republic is the executive branch of government in Slovakia.It is led by a prime minister , who is nominated by the president, and is usually a leader of majority party or of a majority coalition after an election to the National Council of the Slovak Republic...
and Grassalkovich Palace
Grassalkovich Palace
The Grassalkovich Palace is a palace in Bratislava and the residence of the president of Slovakia. It is situated on Hodžovo námestie, near the Summer Archbishop's Palace....
; seat of the President of Slovakia
President of Slovakia
The President of Slovakia is the head of state of Slovakia. The President is directly elected by the people for five years, and can be elected for a maximum of two consecutive terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
.
Characteristics
As its name suggests, the district houses many historic monuments and Bratislava's central institutions. It also contains many Slovak governmental institutions, such as the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Justice.The western part of the district is a hilly area featuring the Slavín
Slavín
Slavín in Bratislava, Slovakia , is a memorial monument and cemetery for Soviet Army soldiers who fell during World War II while liberating the city of Bratislava in April 1945 from the occupying German Wehrmacht units and the remaining Slovak troops who supported the Tiso government...
monument, Horský park (literally Mountain(ous) Park), many detached houses, and most of the foreign embassies in Slovakia. The hilly area ends in the south at the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
with the Chatam Sófer memorial and the Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle is the main castle of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.The massive rectangular building with four corner towers stands on a quite isolated rocky hill of the Little Carpathians directly above the Danube river in the middle of Bratislava...
hill, and in the west at the D2 Motorway. This part of Bratislava is more quiet than the other parts of the city's Old Town.
The eastern section is the historical and administrative center. Notable buildings and spaces include the Grassalkovich Palace
Grassalkovich Palace
The Grassalkovich Palace is a palace in Bratislava and the residence of the president of Slovakia. It is situated on Hodžovo námestie, near the Summer Archbishop's Palace....
, Trinity Church
Trinitarian Church of Bratislava
The Trinitarian Church or Trinity Church, full name Church of Saint John of Matha and Saint Felix of Valois ), is a Baroque-style church in Bratislava's Old Town borough, on the Župné námestie square....
, Bratislava's Town Hall, St. Martin's Cathedral
St. Martin's Cathedral
St. Martin's Cathedral may refer to* St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava in Bratislava* Lucca Cathedral in Lucca* Mainz Cathedral in Mainz* St. Martin's Cathedral, Utrecht in Utrecht...
, Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
, the Primate's Palace
Primate's Palace
The Primate's Palace is a neo-Classical palace in Bratislava's Old Town. It was built from 1778 to 1781 for Archbishop József Batthyány, after the design of architect Melchior Hefele....
, Comenius University, the main railway station
Bratislava hlavná stanica
- External links :* *...
(Hlavná stanica), the Slovak National Theatre
Slovak National Theatre
The Slovak National Theatre denotes:* the oldest Slovak professional theatre consisting of 3 ensembles ,* a Neo-Renaissance theatre building in the Old Town of Bratislava, Slovakia, which formerly housed two of the theatre's ensembles , and* the theatre's large modern theatre building in...
(both the old and new sites), SNP Square, the Main Square
Hlavné námestie (Bratislava)
Hlavné námestie is one of the best known squares in Bratislava, Slovakia. It is located in the Old Town and it is often considered to be the center of the city....
(Hlavné námestie), Hviezdoslav Square
Hviezdoslavovo námestie (Bratislava)
Hviezdoslavovo námestie is one of the best-known squares in Bratislava. It is located in the Old Town, between the New Bridge and the Slovak National Theatre.The square is named after Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav.-History:...
(Hviezdoslavovo námestie), Kamenné námestie ('Stony Square'), Obchodná ulica (a commercial street, an equivalent to the High Street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
), Zochova
Zochova
Zochova Street is a street in Bratislava's Old Town and Zochova is also the name of a major bus stop in Bratislava, located at the point where the street touches Staromestská Street, next to Nový Most in Bratislava, Slovakia...
Street from the 14th century and many other old churches and palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
s. There are still some remnants of the medieval Bratislava city walls, although not open to the public for the time being.
Location
For administrative purposes, according to VZN Number 6/2001, the Old Town of Bratislava has total area of 124 meters squared. Old Town's western boundary is the eastern wall of Bratislava Botanical Garden, continuing through a parking lot underneath the Lafranconi BridgeLafranconi Bridge
Lafranconi Bridge is a concrete motorway bridge in Bratislava, Slovakia, located on the D2 motorway. It was built in 1985-1991, with its right half opened in 1990 and the rest in 1992. It is 766 m long , and has a 30 m wide four-lane motorway. There are lanes for cyclists and pedestrians as well. ...
, the boundary then crosses the tram lines of the Nábr. arm. gen. L. Svobodu Street and continues through Mlynská dolina Street until the State Geological Institute of Dionýz Štúr on Patrónka
Patrónka
Patrónka is a major transport junction and bus stop in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is part of Bratislava I Old Town, located in the northwest of the city...
, continuing to the junction of Lamačská cesta – Cesta na Červený most, then it crosses the railway line Malacky
Malacky
Malacky is a town and municipality in western Slovakia around 35 km north from capital Bratislava. From the second half of the 10th century until 1918, it was part of the Kingdom of Hungary...
- Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
near Bratislava Železná studienka railway station where it sharply turns towards south-east.
Mayors
- 1990–1994 – Miloslava Zemková
- 1994–1998 – Andrej ĎurkovskýAndrej DurkovskýAndrej Ďurkovský is a Slovak politician and former member of the Christian Democratic Movement . After being elected the Mayor of Bratislava twice – from 2002 to 2010 – he was elected into the National Council of the Slovak Republic in the Slovak parliamentary election, 2010...
- 1998–2002 – Andrej ĎurkovskýAndrej DurkovskýAndrej Ďurkovský is a Slovak politician and former member of the Christian Democratic Movement . After being elected the Mayor of Bratislava twice – from 2002 to 2010 – he was elected into the National Council of the Slovak Republic in the Slovak parliamentary election, 2010...
- 2002–2006 – Peter Čiernik
- 2006–2010 – Andrej Petrek
- 2010–present – Tatiana Rosová
See also
- EuroveaEuroveaEurovea is the name of the new business, retail and residential center in Bratislava, Slovakia, located near the Apollo bridge and Tower 115 building. Eurovea connects the Danube riverbank with the city center and offers many new stores and leisure time facilities. The project covers also offices,...
- River ParkRiver Park (Bratislava)River Park is the name of the under-construction mixed-use center on the Danube riverbank in Old Town, Bratislava. It will contain 208 apartments, a five-star Kempinski hotel, restaurants, dance school and stores, a recreation zone with green spaces, alleys and a promenade, altogether on 32,000 m²...
- List of fountains in Bratislava
- Public restrooms in BratislavaPublic restrooms in BratislavaPublic restrooms in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia are called public toilets or public WC . Compared with other capital cities in the region, Bratislava is known for having a very limited number of public restrooms and their appearance has changed little since the fall of communism...
- Ignác Lamár
Sources
- Všeobecne záväzné nariadenie hlavného mesta Slovenskej republiky Bratislavy č. 6/2001 zo 7. júna 2001 ktorým sa podrobne vymedzujú územia mestských častí hlavného mesta Slovenskej republiky Bratislavy (in SlovakSlovak languageSlovak , is an Indo-European language that belongs to the West Slavic languages .Slovak is the official language of Slovakia, where it is spoken by 5 million people...
)
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